Pros
Good experience to learn technology and sales techniques. It used to be possible to make huge paychecks. My income went up every year I was here because I hustled and did all I could to make more money. There was a good work/life balance but only because they didn't want to have to pay overtime.
Cons
I was an AE here for over 10 years and left on my own once I realized the direction they were taking would make it nearly impossible to continue increasing my paycheck. So these cons are not based on me being bitter for being laid off or fired. In no particular order: 1) Non-compete - If they didn’t enforce these, this would be a great place to get a start in the industry. However, they DO enforce them so once you have outgrown their model you have limited choices of where to go next. They have changed the pay plan multiple times and still try to bind you to a non-compete signed ten years ago. You basically have to hire a lawyer to have the freedom to choose where you will work next. It’s like being in an abusive relationship, they don’t want you but they don’t want anyone else to have you either. 2) Retroactive comp changes – This is flat out illegal, yet they continue to do it. Last year they tried to pull this and it would have cost people tens of thousands of dollars. The new VP told me “it may not be right, but it IS legal”. After that conversation I emailed HR and outlined how it was not only illegal, it violated their own comp plan. After that, they told everyone they would “do the right thing” and pay everyone based on the previous pay plan. Even then, they screwed a couple people and cost them thousands of dollars. The State needs to investigate their compensation practices. 3) Low pay – They pay their sales people low wages and continue to lower the commission structure and find ways to not pay the sales people what they have earned. They outsource any support position they can to Pakistan since India apparently was becoming too expensive for them. The partners will pay them to hire someone and they’ll bring someone on for half that amount and pocket the rest. No wonder you can’t keep good talent, once they get some experience they move on to a company that pays them what they’re worth. 4) Poor leadership – This covers everyone from the top down. There were many customers that I should have been able to bring in that didn’t happen due to arbitrary decisions by directors and VPs. Instead of empowering their people to excel, they are more concerned with enforcing their power and leading with fear.